FieldNews
Subscribe

Daily oil & gas and construction news for subcontractors

ComplianceGlossary Term

Safety-Critical Roles

Positions where errors or unqualified personnel can directly cause injury, fatality, or major incident on a worksite. Common examples include H2S monitors, crane operators, and confined space attendants. Subcontractors must verify certifications and competency before placing workers in these roles.

Related Terms

Wage and Hour Division

Compliance

The U.S. Department of Labour branch that enforces federal wage laws, including overtime and minimum wage rules. Subcontractors must ensure field crew pay practices meet WHD standards to avoid audits and penalties. Misclassifying workers as independent contractors is a common trigger for WHD investigations.

S&S (Significant and Substantial)

Compliance

A regulatory classification used by MSHA to flag violations that could reasonably cause serious injury or illness. S&S citations carry higher fines and greater scrutiny for subcontractors working on mine sites. Accumulating S&S violations can jeopardise a subcontractor's site access and future contract eligibility.

Shoring

Compliance

Temporary support structures used to stabilise trenches, excavations, or buildings during construction or repair work. Subcontractors are often required to install shoring before crews can safely enter a dig site. Proper shoring is a regulated safety requirement and failure to comply can result in work stoppages or liability.

29 Cfr 1926 Subpart U

Compliance

The U.S. federal OSHA standard governing blasting and use of explosives on construction sites. Subcontractors performing demolition, excavation, or site prep must comply when explosives are involved. Non-compliance risks stop-work orders, fines, and contract termination.

FLSA (Fair Labor Standards Act)

Compliance

U.S. federal law setting minimum wage, overtime pay, and worker classification standards. Subcontractors must correctly classify workers as employees or independent contractors to avoid penalties. Misclassification can trigger back pay claims and audits on field crews.

STEP (Safety Training Evaluation Process)

Compliance

A benchmarking programme that evaluates a subcontractor's safety training systems against industry standards. Operators often require a valid STEP rating before awarding field contracts. Higher ratings signal lower risk and can improve your bid competitiveness.

Stay sharp on field operations

Industry news and insights, delivered to your inbox.

Subscribe to FieldNews
A community project byAimsio